ABSTRACT
Recording for large labels From the artist manager’s perspective, the record label represents an important career-marketing machine for the artist as well as an indirect income generator for other aspects of the artist’s career, both as a writer and performer. So the recording contract can play a pivotal role in career development. Knowing that this will require the formality of a contract, the manager should seek an experienced and active entertainment attorney to handle the negotiations with the label. Entertainment law is a specialized area with new contract provisions occurring as regularly as the music business changes-almost daily. An experienced attorney knows what he or she can get as concessions from the company and they also know what contract provisions might be open for negotiation for a better deal for the artist. The manager should let the attorney be the negotiator, but he or she should be at all meetings where negotiations are taking place. Since business negotiations can become contentious, it is better for the attorney to take the hard-line role with the label rather than the manager, since the manager will be conducting business with the label when the contract has been completed.
